The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it will soon take delivery of the much- awaited cargoes scanners at the ports.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Service in February 2019, said it will take delivery of three scanners by end of the second quarter 2020. The assurance was given at the height of congestion at the cargo inspection and clearing points.
At that time some stakeholders in the maritime industry doubted the seriousness on the part of Customs, owing to physical examination of cargoes that has enriched some of its fficers over the years.
However in a chat with Shipping Position Daily, the Public Relations Officer of NCS at the Tin Can Island Command; Superintendent Uche Ejieseme , confirmed to our correspondent that the service would take delivery of the cargoes scanners soon.
The Tin Can Customs PRO explained that the scanners will assist in speeding up the clearing process as well as reduce the work of officers and men of the Service.
Responding to question about the delay, he said, “I am sure any moment from now, we are taking delivery of the scanners, government has actually seen the need to support what we are doing with scanners to make it more seamless and with scanners, you can be sure that our operation will be faster and more seamless.
“The Government also understands the need for this, it has come up in different fora and the CGC has mentioned it and the National PRO has confirmed that, so I am sure that soon the scanners will start rolling to the port and land borders” he said.
Meanwhile, key players in the maritime industry have threatened to halt operations post COVID- 19 if the port system refused to go on full automation.
The National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA); Mr Babatunde Mukaila told our correspondent that full automation of the port system is not negotiable after COVID 19.
He said the association will not take no for an answer, stating that the scanners and the truck call-up system must work in other to have a seamless operation at the ports.
He noted that physical examination of cargoes at the port was probably attributable to the six customs officers who tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
According to him, “never again will ANLCA take no for an answer, full automation must be put in place post COVID 19, it’s not negotiable, the call-up system must work so that we can have a seamless operation.
“The scanners have to be at the ports, the physical examination of cargoes has to stop, imagine about five customs officers at the Apapa port were infected with the Corona virus because of physical interference, all this has to stop post COVID- 19”, he concluded
Discussion about this post